Tag / bioethic case studies
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![Man's legs sitting in wheelchair.]()
Case Study – Don’t Take My Foot! Surrogate Decision-Making
The patient, Lockett, is an 82-year-old male, admitted for shortness of breath and complications from his diabetes. Lockett has been diabetic for over 10 years and has not been following the treatment plan outlined by his physicians.
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![Man with an angry face.]()
Case Study – Should Leo’s Nonadherence be Grounds for Firing Him as a Patient
The patient, Leo, is a 54-year-old male, suffering from multiple medical condition including shortness of breath, COPD, renal complications, and confusion. Leo has a history of alcohol and substance abuse. The patient does have decision making capacity but is also supported and spoken for (not in an official way) by his large family.
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![Older couple walking arm in arm on nature path.]()
Case Study – Maxine’s New Love and Decisional Capacity
The patient, Maxine, is an 88-year-old female, admitted due to shortness of breath and complications due to severe dementia. Maxine is well known at the hospital, having followed her for several years including the death of her husband, original dementia diagnosis, and monitoring of her progression.
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![Lab technician using a microscope.]()
Case Study – Would He Want the Clinical Research Trial
The patient is a 44-year-old male, suffering from complications from an aggressive form of cancer. The patient’s condition has continued to worsen, with treatments not as effective as expected, and now expectations are low. The patient is non-responsive but does have a completed advance directive, which states that aggressive measures should cease if there is not a high expectation of meaningful recovery.
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![A stream with a fishing person standing on the rocks.]()
Case Study – The Avid Outdoorsman and Quality of Life
The patient is a 45-year-old male with chronic cardiac issues. If the current standard continues, the patient is not expected to live past the next five years. It is recommended that the patient undergo a surgical procedure that will add several years to his life expectancy.
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![A simple window in a dark room representing isolation.]()
Case Study – The Isolated Long-Term-Care Patient and Scarce Resource Allocation
Patient is an 82-year-old female, who is currently a resident at a long-term care facility. The patient is suffering from severe dementia, COPD, and other conditions, and recently tested positive for COVID-19.
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![A woman wearing a face mask with virus graphics floating around.]()
Case Study –“But I’m Asymptomatic to the Virus!” Quarantine Ethics
Jane is 40-year old physician who is travelling back from providing free medical care oversees. She has been stationed in South America, where a new virus is spreading. Very little is known about the virus but is has been shown to be extremely contagious through the air.
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![Two railroad tracks side by side.]()
Case Study –Allowing Patients to Make Bad Decisions
Patient is a 74-year-old male, suffering from COPD and ESRD. Patient requires oxygen and twice weekly dialysis. After a ten-day hospital admission, the attending physician has determined that the patient is medically cleared for discharge and recommends discharge to a SNF.
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![A patient in a hospital bed.]()
Case Study – Nonadherence to Care?
Patient is a 30-year-old female, presenting with multiple co-morbidities including HIV, COPD and cardiac complications. After several weeks in the ICU, the patient’s condition continued to not improve.
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Ann Karty and the Enduring Impact of Bioethics Case Studies
Ann Karty, raffle ticket winner of the Center’s 2022 annual event, Art of the Wish, receives her custom artwork and shares her personal story about her strong connection and support with and for the Center.
